The EU Integrated Maritime Policy (EUIMP) is an important tool in meeting the objectives of Europe 2020 Strategy and the Cyprus Presidency is ready to contribute and cooperate with the European Commission towards this direction. The Cyprus Presidency realises the potentials of EU-IMP for the sustainability and prosperity of the EU economy and therefore it supports its development in an effective way.

The EUIMP is among the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, which intends to organise a Ministerial Conference on the EU-IMP similar to the one organised by the Portuguese Presidency in Lisbon in October 2007, with an official presentation and the launching of the Blue Book, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Demetris Christofias, and President of the European Commission, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso.

The objective of the Cyprus Presidency is to focus on the progress made on EU-IMP and highlight its importance by attempting to reenergise the IMP, thus creating the framework for new impetus towards implementing this innovative cross-cutting policy. During the meeting, the Cyprus Presidency is aiming to adopt the Limassol Declaration, which will become the milestone for the future development of the EU-IMP and to submit it to the Council Preparatory Bodies for further examination and adoption by formal Council Conclusions, in view of the General Affairs Council and the European Council in December 2012.